So I have a friend who is interested in wetshaving. Until recently, he used an electric beard trimmer. Now he wants to step up his game. He asked me about it recently and I want to give him some good advice. He has never tried any blade or cartridge razor whatsoever. I'm thinking of getting him a Gillette Atra or a Feather Popular for Christmas. However, he has some confidence issues and I want to make sure his first wetshaving experience is an enjoyable one. I definitely don't want him to cut himself the first time, or else he might go back to the beard trimmer. What should I do; should I get him the Atra for now?
Recruiting a wetshaver
- Thread starter endingman
- Start date
If I had to make a choice... I would go with the Feather Popular because it is a double edged razor. With that said... I would give him a vintage Gillette Tech to get him started. If you plan on getting him a Feather Popular... I would go with the Lord Premium (L6)... you can get it at Amazon.com and it is cheaper and a better razor than the Popular...IMO.
WARHAWK
WARHAWK
Any time you can convert someone do it! Whatever it takes! I started last year with the Merkur HD 34C. All the reviews said it was a great razor for beginners. As I'm sure the ones you mentioned are I have no experience with either. I will say get him to register on this site. I wish I would have joined before I started shaving its been AWESOME! Wealth of knowledge here.
A lot of guys for a lot of generations got their first shaves with straights or various safety razors. If your friend really needs training wheels I suppose you could start him with lathering products and a few single blade or twin blade disposable razors before introducing him to a DE razor.
As modern shaving systems go, the Atra isn't bad. Had I discovered the techniques I've found here and the inexpensive Atra compatible carts at Dollar General before taking up my DE I may have never made the jump.
A DE razor is kind of a high risk gift for Christmas as there is a good chance he may not take to our kind of shaving. If it were me, I would get him the razor now and if he takes to it you can follow up with lathering products, a brush, or another razor at Christmas.
As modern shaving systems go, the Atra isn't bad. Had I discovered the techniques I've found here and the inexpensive Atra compatible carts at Dollar General before taking up my DE I may have never made the jump.
A DE razor is kind of a high risk gift for Christmas as there is a good chance he may not take to our kind of shaving. If it were me, I would get him the razor now and if he takes to it you can follow up with lathering products, a brush, or another razor at Christmas.
Baby steps!
Simply start off slow. Get that can of goo or electric out of their hands. 1 step at a time. Give him too much & you'll just scare him away.
Simply start off slow. Get that can of goo or electric out of their hands. 1 step at a time. Give him too much & you'll just scare him away.
I would not hesitate to recommend a DE to start. Just make sure he has a decent brush and soap/cream along with the razor.
Good advice already given about introducing him to B&B. The great members here will offer encouragement, advice and help improve his confidence. We did it and he can do it, too.
Good luck to you both.
Good advice already given about introducing him to B&B. The great members here will offer encouragement, advice and help improve his confidence. We did it and he can do it, too.
Good luck to you both.
Do you have a razor that you can loan him to try out?
I handed a work colleague a flair tip super speed, a feather and a stick of palmolive. He had a brush.
He did his face and head and said he loved it.
He did his face and head and said he loved it.
- Thread starter
- #9
I successfully recruited a wetshaver! I gave him my LORD L6, a puck of Williams, he bought a Van Der Hagen Deluxe Brush, and I showed him how to shave. He didn't lather very well. Nevertheless said he was really impressed with it, and that it was a lot closer than his electric. You should have seen the look on his face. 
WTG... Did you tell him about B&B?I successfully recruited a wetshaver! I gave him my LORD L6, a puck of Williams, he bought a Van Der Hagen Deluxe Brush, and I showed him how to shave. He didn't lather very well. Nevertheless said he was really impressed with it, and that it was a lot closer than his electric. You should have seen the look on his face.
WARHAWK
I actually had my uncle over and I began to preach the wonders of traditional wetshaving. Next thing you know, I had him trying it out then and there with one of my mild razors. Sometimes a coach can help ease someone with apprehension into this wonderful world we all inhabit. Of course, it was my uncle and doing this with someone who you're not close too might be weird and awkward, LOL.
I agree with warhawk, get him a tech from e bay they are dirt cheap, an excellent starter razor and pretty damn cool-what's not to like? If he decides it's not for him then you can relieve him of said tech!
+1 on a tech. It is a great starter razor; heck it's a great razor.
+1
I'm trying to convert a guy (he uses disposables) and think first of all he'll have to use a decent cream instead of that cr*p canned goo. Then, we'll move to the DE and the fearsome blades!!!!
+1 on the Merkur 34C, somewhat cheeper is the EJ DE89 is about as mild as the merkur
Yea, I made a mistake with a guy that I got started with a DE razor. I didn't actually show him how to make lather and shave. I just did a dumb show in which I pantomimed making lather and shaving without actually doing it. He's happy with the razor but didn't take to the lather making. He's using a particularly nasty canned goo which is so viscous I suspect it is causing the razor to drag and jump. He's pleased with the results, but I see the nicks and razor burn on his neck and I cringe.
Give him another week.......then get him straight shaving 
